The most noticeable theme in almost all of Hitchcock’s films is the obsession with mothers. Films like Psycho, Notorious, and The Birds all feature characters, both male and female, who are defined by having severe issues with their respective mothers.
Research in Progress: June 26, 2021
These issues may seem minor and inconsequential at a first glance. However, the mommy issues in Hitchcock’s films have major impact on the narrative structure, plot, character and closure in the films.
The Dark Side of Motherhood may be the result of Hitchcock’s experience of America rather than a function of his own personal background and upbringing.
Momism is Erik Erikson’s concept that describes the overprotective and controlling maternal influence.
It resultsed in the trend of “Blame the Mother”
It reflected a newly emerging cultural ethos, in post WWII society, in which there was cult of motherhood, often depicting mothers as an emasculating influence, destroying her child’s psyche and mentakl welfare.
Norman Bates, Psycho
“A son is a poor substitute for a lover.”
Slavo Zisek, p. 5:
The male hero to whom maternal superego blocks his access to normal sexual relations:
The Birds: Mitch; neurotically clinging mother
Frenzy; necktie murderer (does he have name?)
Man Who Knew Too Much only positive, unambiguous mother, but needs pills
Marnie: love-withholding, guilt-ridden mother
NBNW: Roger Thornhill; Clara, his mother is caustic, skeptical, obstructs efforts to avoid getting killed
Roger is hindered and mocked by his ageing and thoroughly stubborn mother;
Her continual hindrance and possessiveness is the most cynical portrayal of a mother figure in H’s work.
Psycho: Norman
Rear Window: Jeffrey
Shadow of a Doubt: nervous, pathetic, well-meaning Emma; she sheltered and spoiled her younger brother
Strangers on a Train: Bruno
To Catch a Thief:
Types of Mothers
Silly Older mothers (frumpy housewives)
Shadow of a Doubt
Stage Fright
Strangers on a Train
The mock strengulation scene shows an act of violence directed against the character who fails to recognize Bruno for whohe is.
The silly older wom,an who Bruno easily charms ad excites with hsi titillating talk about murder. The mother figure is beneath his hands
She resembles physically and emotionally Bruno’s real mother, wh had been introduced earlier.
Unfavorable Mothers
Three mothers of psychotic killers:
Mrs. Bruno Anthony (Strangers on a Train)
Mrs. Bates (Psycho)
Mrs. Rusk (Frenzy, brief role)
Sensitive Mothers
Brief Roles
Saboteur:
Mrs. Mason, the mother of Kane’s friend, who died in the explosion accident at the factory.
She has one scene, in the first reel, when Kane pays her a visit and offers apology and condolences
The Wrong Man:
Henry Fonda’s mother (Esther Minciotti), an Italian-American immigrant (one of few ethnic minority figures in Hitchcock’s work.
